This prestigious Guest House is accessed via a narrow unpretentious suburban lane in Umtentweni by the same name: for sale

Galloping Jack

During Royston’s residence at Mount Romani he was involved in the 1st World War where initially he committed a military tactical blunder in Gibeon in S W Africa, but later became a highly respected leader of the Australian forces under his command in the Middle East, particularly in Gaza. It was at the various battles leading to Beersheba where he ostensibly rode 7 horses to death and the Australians nick-named him Galloping Jack.

The Australians created the nick-name after he had ridden up to various sectors of his lines where his troops were under heavy attack from the Turks encouraging them to continue the fight as “we have the Turks on the run”.

The Australian Light Horse loved him, as they loved no Australian-born officer. Writing of him, the men who knew him best produced strings of adulatory and sometimes contradictory adjectives.

Perhaps Paterson came closest with his summing-up that Royston was ‘by instinct a bandit chief and by temperament a hero’. As well, the man was vivid, generous, warm, and impatient of protocol, careless of detail, single-minded, impetuous and stubborn. He was the stuff that military triumphs and disasters are made of. Fate, and perhaps his beloved Australians, spared him the disasters.

After leading the 3rd L.H. Brigade in the 1st and 2nd battles of Gaza, Brigadier General Royston abruptly left the Light Horse in October 1917 on the eve of the Beersheba operations. According to the official history, his departure was ‘for urgent personal business’. Royston told his biographer simply that he was ordered back to London. However, Major A. B. ‘Banjo’ Paterson claimed that Royston had deliberately inhaled poison gas so that he could be sure of recognizing its presence in battle. ‘The result was that I found him in a hospital, a badly shaken man, passing green urine, and ordered away for a long leave’. Other sources confirm this unlikely story. Royston was persuaded to return to South Africa from London, ‘a very sick man and broken-hearted at having to leave his command’ and he was shipped off to head up the Zulu contingent manning various ordnance sections. He was also highly respected by his Zulu forces. His Zulu nickname was “Zithulele” – the silent one.

Create a memory by staying over in one of our beautiful honeymoon suites after your perfect coastal wedding. On your special night, the Bridal couple has the option to sleep in their choice of the Antique King Size bedroom set in front of the beautiful fireplace which will be lit at your request to create the most romantic atmosphere to remember forever. Or in the antique Queen size bedroom with a private deck to the valley. Or in the main house’s huge 4 Poster bed overlooking the valley from the treetops. Or in the original Main Suite with a balcony and river views. (There is a twin bedroom suite available too with inland and river views.)

• Enjoy Champagne Breakfast in bed or in front of the fire.

• Breakfast can be served overlooking the valley.

• A Breakfast basket for you to take into the forest is another option.

• You may want to relax in the pool and be served a leisurely breakfast on the Victorian veranda with a birds’ eye view over the Umzimkulu River accompanied by the cry of the Fish Eagles. Many species of birds might join you for their own breakfast by feeding in the Fig Trees around the swimming pool.

C